Acetabular cup migration after primary cementless total hip arthroplasty in rheumatoid arthritis and its influencing factors: a comparative study with osteoarthritic hip

To compare the radiographic migration profiles of primary cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA) between patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and those with osteoarthritis (OA). A total of 197 patients (215 hips) who underwent cementless THA for RA or OA between January 2001 and January 2013 and followed up for a minimum of 5.5 years were included. Ninety-four RA patients (109 hips) were compared with 103 OA patients (106 hips). Radiological evaluation was performed for acetabular cup loosening, and cup migration was measured using Einzel-Bild-Rontgen-Analyse (EBRA) software. Multiple variables were assessed to identify influencing factors for cup migration. Early cup migration was observed in 13 hips (11.9%) in the RA group and four hips (3.8%) in the OA group, showing a significant difference (p = 0.041). Acetabular cup loosening occurred in three cups (2.8%) in the RA group and in one cup (0.9%) in the OA group, showing no significant difference (p = 0.321). Total cup migration was higher in the RA group (2.62 mm) than in the OA group (1.44 mm, p = 0.005). Total cup migration was significantly higher in patients aged  50 years (p = 0.005). Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody influenced total cup migration. Patients with seropositive RA showed significantly higher total cup migration and early cup migration incidence than those with seronegative RA (p = 0.005, p = 0.038, respectively). Acetabular cups in primary cementless THAs of RA patients were less stable in terms of cup migration compared with that of OA patients.